03 October 2016

Look for the red door

Red door, Charleston, SC   
Maybe they just like red! It adds a bright splash of color on the white building and the blue shutters are a lovely touch. Just in case there was a deeper meaning I found this - the last reason is the best:
A red door symbolizes several things including welcome, sanctuary and status. In feng shui, the positive energy of the color red is drawn to the front door, which is considered the mouth of the home. Red also invites good luck and happiness during the Chinese New Year
A sign of welcome and warmth, a red door is thought to signify the safety of a house along the Underground Railroad, a route for African slaves escaping captivity and traveling north during the 19th century. In Scotland, a red door signifies the status of a paid mortgage. Some Protestant and most Lutheran churches painted church doors red to identify them as part of the Reformation. Albert Einstein painted his front door red so he could find his house.

5 comments:

Catalyst said...

We've had red doors on the front of our houses for many years. Can't say it brought us luck but we were able (like Einstein) to find our way home!

Maria Mansfield Richardson said...

I love the history of the red door - especially the Underground Railroad. That off center window would drive me batty.

Halcyon said...

I always wanted a house with a red door!

William Kendall said...

Quite a bright red, too.

Charlestonjoan said...

I read that that was one of the reasons for our Rainbow Row of colorful houses. They helped the merchants find their way home.